Electrical connection means



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March 26, 1940. H. A. DOUGLAS ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed Dec. l0, 1936 March 26, 1940. H. A. DOUGLAS ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed Dec. l0, 1936V 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIII Harig A. D

50 Figure l5 illustratesl stillanother embodiment; snglerpieeef sheet metal, and'COInprS'eS a Wall PatentedMar, 2s,194o l f i 2,194,824

' [amsn] l ELECTRreAr. CoNNEoTioN-MEANS Harry L Dolvlglaay Bronson,ltIiehQ,y assigner to Kingston Products Corporation, acorporation Y *f'omdina' u i; v-

e Application December 10, 1936, Serial`-No. 115,076 y '18 claims. `(dritten"-is'yI' y, This inventionrelates-to-electricalconnection stance being shown astforming a closurefor the means, particularly to connection lme ansicorn openI-end'of a switch casing 2|. Anv insulating prising a receptacle mounted on the supporting blockiv22=fis mountedfor movement Within the i base of an electrical switch,and the principali casing -2I-, land carries vhuidige-means 23: VThe 5. Objeei-,Of thisinventienisto' providenew end ini bridge'meansl-Zaisprovided.with depressedporproved electrical connectionmeans 4of this'typertOnS 24 aCeOInInOdated n reeeSSeS 25 formed in In ytl'iedrawings accompanying thisk specification thenSulatng lOl0el 22l y' 'y and forming a part of this application, there are The SuppOrt-- iS p1`0Vided-Wth a plurality Off' shownsevera1 embodiments which they-invention apertures 26, each aperture having a polygonal may'assume, endin these drawings; portion Zlleading to the exterior surface ofthe 10 Figure lisa fragmentary sectional viewillus- SuppOrt 20, and a Well Portion' 23, ounterslnkng Meting en embodiment fjthe invent-011,1 o the polygonal portion 2l andleading to the in- Figure 2'is a sectional view correspondingl subteriorfsurface Iof thev SuppOrtl 20- .AS best ShOWnV o stantially to the 1ine2-2 of Figurel 1,--andshownFigure3, the `pOlygOnal pOrtiOn 2l '0f each ofv 1-5 ing,vv in addition, an electrical plug conductor the apertures 25 `S preferablyeruelform'lnfeut? 15l essemmed with thereceptacn. line, -havinsoppositely disposed;nothedrortionsf j Figure 3 is a disassembled.perspective-view ofV 29 1and'30. n i y e some of theparts vof the embodimentdisclosed-in: Receptacle means 3| may be mounted V0n theY Figures 1 and. 2, n v ,1 c o support 2li,4 each receptaclemeans3l 'comprising A Figure 4 is e, fregmentaryeeetionai Viewziuue; asheetmetaltubular body 32 preferably formedoi 20 y 4trating a different embodiment of the invention,"v Complementary U.`'Shaped partsl 33', bent tOgether Figure 5 is a sectional View corresponding gen" `tOefOlln .the bOCly 32- A' generally flat Dertienv erauy to the une 5 5 of Figure 4, and showing, integrally 'nonnets the parts 33, and provides a in. addition, two plug conductors assembled'with lOOp 34 When the parts '33' are bent to form the the receptacle, tubular body32. Theabuttingwalls ofthe U- 25 Figure 6 isa fragmentary sectional View show' Shaped -parts.- 33 are recessed-Q aS ShOWnl at 35, ing e different embodimem-l 0f the invention, these recesses cooperating with each other and Figure 7 is a disassembled perspective 'view-of With the lOOp 34 `t0 Vprovide an aperture l36- some of the parts of the embodiment ofliigurer,y Formed Aat the-Open enelA Of thel'bO'dy 32 S a genthesegparts having been'amanyturned 180 de-` erallv 'Circular-foot, preferably formed by lat'- 30 grees, to better illustrate their construction; l' erally entendnglvgenerally semi-circular anges Figure 8 is e fragmentary Sectional lView of, formed .integral with the U`shaped parts,33. another embodiment ofthe invention, r Adlaeelltlthe aperture, the lOOp pOtOn 34 is Figure 9 is a section corresponding generallyto g provided With projections 33 extending Substan" the line 9 9 of Figure 8, and showing,=in"addi tlally parallel WthreSpeCt t0 the aXiS 0f the aper- 35. tion, two plug conductorsl assembled with the re-l ture 35- The bOdy 32 may beassembled with the cept-ecm, t t l ,A r supporti` 201 by inserting the loop 34y throughthe e t Figui-e 10 is e perspective View of e, parteho'wn aperture 26. from the interior surface of the sup- Vin the embodiment disclosedin Figures 8v andf9, rp0rt, lthe HOtCheS 30 providing. Clearance for' the this part having been axially turned 180 degrees projections 38,?and the`r nOtCheS 29 @Operating 4 0w to better illustrate its construction, 4 o with the exterior margins of the body 32 top holdy Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional -viewofr the bedy againstzrotation. In some instances the.,4 another embodiment ofthe invention, f plOJ'eCtOIlS'WmaY be omittedfn Which CaSe they Figure vl2 is a disassembledperspective viewo y nQtCheS 30 are alSO omitted; and the polygonal" some of the parts shown in Figure 11, portionZl is then preferably rectangular in out-v 5 Figure 13 isa sectional view disclosing another lille; l o f y l embodiment of the invention, y COInbined 'eontaet anddetent member 39 is Figure 14 is a disassembled perspective View of prOVldeClfOr COOPeratiOn With the body portion some of the parts shown in Figui-e131, and 32., the member 39 'bengzpreferably formed ofia 40,one extremity being b ent back upon itself, to, o

Referring particularly 'to Figures 1` through 3, pplde a'rounded 'party 4| ,l and a tapering nger the embodiment of the invention therein-shownv` 14H2. The lower extremity ofthev wall 40 is-laterally comprisesy a supportl member 20 preferably frvilgieduuponitself,toprovide a dome-shaped con-[ formed `of insulating materiaLand in ths inf-p taetheadf, antifa, generally eylndrical'flange 55 of the invention.

44, the liange 44 being spaced from the contact head 43, and having its defining surfaces interrupted, as shown at 45. The member 39 is assembled with the tubular body 32, so that the wall 4B is substantially disposed within the tubular body, the rounded part 4| being adapted to cooperate with the aperture 36 andwith a conductor terminal disposed in the aperture, and the finger portion 42 is constructed and arranged to frictionally engage the inner surface ofthe adjacent portion of the body 32.

As best shown in Figure l, the foot 31 on the tubular body 32 generally overlies they flange 44 provided on the member 39, and the .dome-shaped contact 43 is in abutting relation with the bridge 24 or, in some instances, witlitlie top surface of the insulating block 22. Encircling the tubular body 32 ls a spring 46, having its one end bearing against the bottom of the well 28 of the respective aperture 2G, and has its other end bearing upon the adjacent surface of they foot 31 of the tubular body Si', the spring urging the foot, 31 into abutment with the ange 44, and thereby urging the contact head 43 into engagement with either the` bridge 23 or the top `Surface vof the insulating meer er..

A conductor terminal 41,1.nay be assembled with the ,receptacle 3i, and as shown` in-Figure 2, the conductor terminal isV preferably of the plug type, and is provi-ded with a tapered nose 48, and a generally cylindrical portion 49, this latter portion being provided .with an annular furrow 58. As shownin Figure 1,' the rounded part 4I of the member 39 intersects theaperture 3S, so thatr when the plug conductor 41 is inserted Within the aperture 3S, the tapered nose 48 `engages the interior surface of the loop 34, and theadjacent surface ofthe rounded part 4|,of the member 3S, and further inserting movement of the plug conductor terminal 41 Vcauses the tubular body 32 to move outwardly, or upwardly asviewed in Figures 1 and 2, at the Sametime bearing on the member39 to hold this member in engagement.

with the bridge 23 or insulating block 22, and insertion is completed'when the annular furrow 50 of the plug conductor 41 is brought into alignment with the rounded part 4| of the member From the foregoing it will be obvious that the.

member 39 provides both a detent means by reason of its rounded part 4I, and also a con-A tacting surface by reason of its dome-shaped contact head 43, the member 39 being relatively stationary, whereas the tubular body 32 is movable to change the location ofthe rounded part` 4! with respect to the loop 38 so as to permit insertion or withdrawal of the plug conductor 41. When the insulating block .22 is shifted,l the receptacle means 3l is moved bodily by the-cam action between the contact head 43 and the adjacent surface of the depression 24. l

Referring` to Figures 4 and 5, the-embodimen of the invention therein disclosed comprises a support 5l similar tothe support 29, having an aperture provided with a polygonal portion 52 and a'well portion 53, similar to the portions 2'! and 28 hereinbefore described. A tubular body 54 is preferably formed in a manner somewhat similar to the tubular body 32, but in this instance the body 54 is provided with spaced apertures 55 and 56. The tubular body 54, as before, is provided with a loop portion 51, and a generally circular foot 58. Reciprocably mounted within the body 54 is a second tubular body 59, having a loop and recesses 6l, providing an aperture 62generally aligned with the aperture 56 in the body 54. The loop 60 is provided with a protuberance 53 extending into the aperture 55 formed in the body 54, and the open end of the tubularbody 59 is formed with a generally circular foot 64 which underlies the foot 58.

A combined detent and contact member 65 is mounted within thesecond tubular body 59, this member r65 being similar to the member 39 hereinbefore described, and like parts will be given likenumbers supplemented by the subscript a. A spring B6 is disposed about the body 54, and interposed 4between the bottom of the well 53 and the foot 58 of the body 54. The spring 66 urges the feet58 and 64, andthe flange 44a to abutting relation, and also urges the contact headY 43a into engagement with thebridge of the switching mechanism. I

. AS best shown in Figure 5, this embodiment of the invention is designed to accommodate two plug conductor terminals 61, 68 similar to the terminal 41 shown in Figure 2. I Insertion ofthe plug conductor terminal B1into the generally aligned apertures 56 and 62,of the bodies 54 and 59, causes the tapered nose of `the conductor terminal to bear against the inner surface of the loop 60 and the adjacent surface of the rounded part 44a of the member, causing thebody 59 and the body 54 to move outwardly, or upwardly with ,reference to Figures 4 and 5, so that the cylindrical portions of ythe plug conductor terminal 61 may pass through the apertures 56 and 62 until ,the ,annular furrow is aligned with, the rounded part 4m, whereupon the spring B urges the body 59 and the body 54 inwardly, or downwardly with reference to Figures 4 and 5 to hold tllie annular furrow with the bent-over portion 4 a.

Assumingnow that the plug conductor terminal 68 isto be inserted within the recess` 55 `of the body portion 54, the tapered nose of the `conductorterminal 68 engages the `inside surface oi the loop 51 and theadjacent surface of the protuberancev 53, and .by cam action moves the body 54 outwardly, or upwardly with reference to Figures 4 and 5, and relative to the body 59, until the cylindrical portion of the conductor terminal 68 is permitted to pass, so that the annular lurrow may be alignedwith the protuberance S3, Whereuponthe spring 66 urges the body 54 inwardly to hold the annular furrow in engagement with the adjacent surface of the protuberance 63.

Referringfto the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 6 and 7, a support 1f), similar to the support 20, is provided with a generally circular aperture 1l leading from the exterior surface' of the support 1U, 'and a well 12 countersinking the aperture 1 I and leading to the interior surface of the support. As best shown in Figure 7, the aperture 1| is provided with an inwardly projectingitongue 13, adapted to be slidably received within a slot 14 Vformed in a tubular Vbody 15.` The body 15 is generally cylindrical, and is preferably formed of sheet metal, and comprises foot is adapted to underlie the foot |0| formed on generally semi-circular complementary halves 16 andan integral loop portion 11, oneset of abut` ting margins of the complementary halves 16 being recessed to provide the slot 14, and being further recessed adjacent the loop 11 so as to cooperate .with this loop to provide. an aperture 18. Adjacent the open end of the body 15 the complementary halves 16 are provided with generally semi-circular flanges 19, these flanges cooperating to form a generally circular foot. .The loop 11 may be notched as shown at 80 to vprovide clearance for the tongue 13 formed in the base 10.` To assemble the body 15 with the support 10, the notches and 14 of the body 15are properly aligned with the tongue 13, and the body 15 is inserted through the aperture 1| from the interior surface, or lower surface referring to Figure 6, of the support 10, a spring 8| being first disposed about the body 15, and after final assembly, being interposed between the bottom of the well 12 and the adjacent surface of the foot formed by the semi-circular anges 19.

Disposed within the tubular body 15 is a combined detent and contact member 82, preferably of solid metal construction, and having a body portion 83 rectangular in cross-section. The upper surface of the member 82 is rounded as shown at 84, and the lower end is laterally enlarged to provide a generally circular contact head 85 havz ing a dome-shaped contacting surface, this latter being adapted to engage a bridge 85 or the adjacent surface of an insulating block 81, in much the same manner as described in Figures l through 3. As best suggested in Figure 6, the spring 8| urges the foot formed by the iianges 19 into engagement with the adjacent surface of the contact head 85, and in this position the rounded end 84 of the member 82 intersects part of the aperture 10. A plug conductor terminal, similar to the terminal 41 hereinbefore described, may be assembled with the body portion 15, in a manner similar to that described in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 3.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 8 through l0 comprises an outer body 90,

preferably formed of sheet metal in a manner somewhat similar to that described in connection with the tubular body 15, `the body in this instance having its abutting Walls recessed to pro-vide apertures 9| and92, and one set of abutting walls is further recessed to provide a slot 93 extending from the lower aperture 92 toward the open end of the body 90, and a slot 94 extending between the apertures 9| and 92. I The loop portion 95 is slotted as shown at 96 to provide for clearance of a tongue 91 formed inthe margins of an aperture 98 in the support 99. As before, the aperture 98 is countersunk by a well |00 leading to the interior surface of the support 99.v

Received within the `body 90 is a second body |02 which is similar to the body 15 described in connection with the embodiments disclosed in Figures 6 and 7, and like parts will be given like numbers supplemented by the subscript a. As before, the body |02 is provided with a slot 14a, for slidably receiving the tongue 91, and a slot 80ais formed in the loop portion 11a. In this particular instance the loop portion 11a is provided with a protuberance `|03 which is adapted to extend into the area defined by the aperture 9|' of the body 00. The aperture 18a of the body |02 is arranged to be in general alignment with the lower aperture 92 of the body 90. The body I ,02 is provided with a generally circular foot formed by the semi-circular flanges 19a, and this the body.90.

A member 82a. is slidably received withinthe body |02, and is in all respects similar to the member 82, hereinbefore described. 'Ihe member 82a is provided with a rounded detent portion 84a, and a contact head 85a having a domeshaped contacting surface which is adapted to abut with a bridge |04 or the adjacent surface of an insulating block |05.` A spring |06 is interposed between thebottom of the well |00 and the vadjacent surface of the generally circular foot |0|.

Plug conductor terminals,` similar to the plug conductor terminal hereinbefore described, mayl be inserted into either the aperture 9|, or .the

generally aligned apertures 92 and.18a,` insertion and assembly of the plugfconductor terminals being performed in a manner'similai` to that described in connection with the embodimentsA shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 1l and 12 comprises a support similar to the support 20, the support being provided with a rectangular aperture |I0, countersunk Aby a Well III. A body H2, preferably of inverted U-shape, and formed of a single piece of sheet metal, is reciprocably mounted in the aperture II 0, and cooperates .with the margins of rthis' aperture, so that the body ||2 is held againstaxial rotation. -The'body ||2 is provided with` legs I3 which are connected by an integral loop portion H4, and the free end of each leg I|3 is provided with a laterally bent foot II5. TheA legs IIS are provided with aligned slots ||6 and |11, the slots H5 extending intermediate the extremities of the legs I3, and the slots IIJ exe tending from the extremities of the legs H3 to a point short of the slots IIS.

A combined detent and contact member ||8 is mounted within the body ||2, and is preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal, having` a generally plane wall .l I9, the lower end of which `vided with an arcuate recess |25, and the side margins of the wall |9 are notched as shown` at |26 to form projections |21 and |28. When the member |I8 is assembled with the body I I2, the projections |21 are slidably received in the slots H6, and the projections |28 are slidably received in the slots II1, as best shown in Figure 11. The surface of the arcuate recess |25 `coop-y erates with the inner surface of the loopy |I4 to.

provide an aperture, the size of which may be yieldably varied. The feet ||5 formed on the body I2 overlie theadjacent surface of the contact head |2I, and a spring |29 is interposed between the bottom of the well II I and the adjacent surfaces of the feet I I5, the spring |29 normally functioning to hold the feet I I5 in abutment with the lcontact head I2I, and the domeshaped part ofthe contact head I2| in engagement with the bridge |23 or the adjacent surface of the insulating block |24.

A plug conductor terminal, similar to the plug conductor terminal 41 hereinbefore described, may be inserted within the aperture provided by the loop ||4 and the adjacent margin of then;

recess |25, inserting movement of the plug conductor terminal causing its tapered nose to engage the interior surface of the recess |25, to cam the body ||2 outwardly, or upwardly with reference to Figure l1, to provide for passage of the cylindrical portion of the plug conductor terminal, and inserting movement is continued until the annular furrow is brought into alignment with the margin of the arcuate recess |25, whereupon the spring |29 urges the body ||2 inwardly so that the interior surface of the loop ||4 acts on the cylindrical surface of the plug 'conductor terminal to hold the annular furrow in engagement with the surface of the arcuate recess |25.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the embodiment of the invention therein disclosed comprises a support |30 having an aperture 13| and a well |32, similar to the aperture |13 and well hereinbefore described. A body |33 is formed similar to the body |12, but in this instance the legs |34 of the body |33 are of a greater extent than the legs of the body H2. The legs |34 are provided with oppostely .disposed slots |35 and |36, and the free end of each leg |34 is provided with a laterally extending foot |31. A combined detent and contact member |38 is assembled with the body |33, this member |38 being in all respects similar to the member ill. hereinbeiore described, and like parts will be designated by like numerals supplemented by the subscript a.

An additional detent member |33 is also provided, this detent member being formed of a plane piece of sheet metal, and has an elongated arcuate recess |43 in its lower margin, and a' rather shallow arcuate recess |4| in its upper margin, and the upper margin of the .detent member |39 is also notched, as shown at |42. The parts may be assembled as suggested in Figure 13, the member |38 having its projections |280l slidably receivcd within the slots |36, and its projections |21c1l slidably received within the slots |35. It will be noticed that the slots |35 are considerably longer than the projections |21a, so that the side margins of the detent member |39 may also be received within the slots |35, the lower margin of the detent member |39 resting on the upper margin of the member |33, and the margin of the recess |35a cooperates with the arcuate recess |43 to provide an aperture, and the arcuate recess |4| cooperates with the loop |43 of the body |33 to provide a second aperture. A spring |44 is interposed between the bottom of the well |32 and the adjacent surfaces of the feet |31, so as to normally urge the feet |31 into engagement with the contact head |2|a. Plug conductor terminals, similar to the plug conductor terminal 41 hereinbeiore described may be inserted within either one of the apertures .in a manner that will be obvious.

Referring to Figure l5, the embodiment of the invention therein disclosed comprises a relatively thin support |45, preferably formed of insulating material, and provided with an aperture |46. A cup-shaped member |41, preferably formed of sheet metal, is secured to the support |43 in inverted relation, the open extremity of the cupshaped member |41 being laterally bent to provide a flange |43 adapted to abut the inner, or lower surface referring to Figure l5, o the support |45, and the peripheral surface of the cupshaped member |41 adjacent the flange |48 being of a size to substantially engage the margin of the aperture |43. The cup-shaped member |41 may be secured to the support |45 by striking outwardly portions of the member |41 as shown at |49. The closure wall |50 of the cup-shaped element |41 is provided with an aperture |5| for the reception of a receptacle, which may take the form of any of the receptacles hereinbefore described, in this particular instance a receptacle |52 being shown, which receptacle is similar to the receptacle 3| described in the embodiment disclosed in Figures l through 3. It will be appreciated that the cup-shaped member |41 provides a well portion for a spring |53 which encircles the receptacle |52, and with this construction the support need not be as thick as the supports hereinbefore described.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention, and it also will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modied, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein speoically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

l. A contact terminal, comprising: a tubular body, having an aperture at one end for receiving a conductor terminal, said body at its other end having a laterally extending abutment; a member, so constructed and arranged that said body and said member are in relatively movable relation, said member having a detent portion disposed interior-ly of said tubular body for coperation with said body aperture, and having also a contacting surface disposed exteriorly of said tubular body, said exteriorly disposed part having a laterally extending abutment engageable with said body abutment; and resilient means, constructed and arranged to urge said abutments to engagement.

2. Receptacle means, comprising: an outer movable body, having a recess for receiving a conductor terminal; and an inner stationary member, having a portion intersecting the outline of said body recess; resilient means, constructed and arranged to yieldably oppose movement of said body; said body and said member being so constructed and arranged that inserting movement of a conductor terminal of predetermined size within said body recess moves said body relative to said member against the urging force of said resilient means to cause said recess to clear said member portion so that the conductor terminal may be disposed within said recess.

3. Receptacle means, comprising: a iirst body, having spaced recesses for receiving conductor terminals; a second body, having a recess generally aligned with one of said spaced recesses, and having also detent means cooperable with the other of said recesses for holding a conductor terminal in said other recess; a member, having a portion cooperable with said generally aligned recesses, for holding a conductor terminal in said generally aligned recesses; said rst and said second bodies being constructed and arranged for relative movement with respect to said member and with respect to each other; and resilient means, constructed and arranged to yieldably oppose movement of said first and said second bodies.

4. In combination: a support, having an aperture; a body, mounted for sliding movement through said aperture, having a recess for ,receiving a conductor terminal; va member, Arelatively i immovable with respect to'said support, having a portion constructed and arranged to cooperate with said body recess, and a conductor ,terminal within said recess; and resilientmeans, con` structed and arranged to press a conductor 'terminal in said body recess against theportion of'y said member. f

'said body, constructed and arranged to hold-,said

body against -turning with respect to said support; a member, relatively immovable with re spect to said support, having a portion constructed and arranged to `cooperate with said body recess, and a conductor'terminal within said re'-v cess; and resilient means, constructed'and arranged to press a conductor terminal in said body recess against therp'ortion of said member.

6. In combination: `a support, having an ap- `erture, the marginal surface of which is provided with a projection; a body mounted'for "sliding movement through said aperture, having a recess for receiving va conductor terminal; and being formed with a slot constructed and arranged to "receive said projection, to hold said body against turning with respect to said support, yet permit sliding movement of said body through said support aperture; a member, relatively immovable with respect to said support, having a 'portion constructed and arranged to cooperate with said body recess, and a conductor terminal within said recess; and resilient means, constructed and arranged to press a conductor terminal in said body recess against the portion of said member.

7. In combination: a support, having an aperture; a tubular body mounted for sliding movement through said aperture, and having a recess for receiving a conductor terminal; a member, disposed Within said body, and constructed and arranged to be relatively immovable with respect to said support, said member having a portion constructed and arranged to cooperate with said body recess, and a conductor terminal within said recess; and resilient means, constructed and arranged to press a conductor terminal in said body recess against the portion of said member. Y

8. In combination: a support, having an aperture; a body, formed of a single piece of sheetmetal bent to provide a loopfor receiving a conductor terminal and to provide also a tubular portion, said body being mounted for sliding movement through said aperture; a member, disy posed within said tubular portion, and constructed and arranged to be relatively immovable with respect to said support, said member having a portion constructed and arranged to cooperate with said loop, and a conductor terminal within said loop; and resilient means, constructed and arranged to press a conductor terminal in said loop against the portion of said member.

9. In combination: a support, having an aperture; a body slidably mounted in said aperture, and having a recess for receiving a conductor terminal disposed at one surface of said support, and an abutment adjacent the opposite surface of said support; a member, relatively immovable with respect to said support, having one extremity in position to engage a conductor terminal disposed within said body recess, and

an :opposite extremity -providedfwith an abutment engageable with said body abutment; and

resilient means,` constructed' andarranged to yieldably hold saidabutments in .engaging relation. i y n i.

:10. In combination:` a 4planer element, having an aperture,l and having acwell. countersinking said aperture; a body, mounted for Slidingmovement-through said aperture', having a recess for receiving a conductor terminal; amembenrelatively immovable with respectv to said element,

having a portion constructed and arranged to cooperate with said body recess, and a conductor terminal within said recess; and resilient means, having one end bearing ag'ainst-'a'partof said body, and its other end bearing against the bottom of said well, for pressing a conductor terminal in said body recess against the portion of said l I member.

` `11. In combination: a support, having an aperture; arst tubular body,-mounted for sliding movement through said aperture, andl having spaced-apart apertures? a second tubular body, 1

slidably disposed within saidI iirsty body, having' an aperture adapted to align with one of said `spaced-apart apertures, to receive `a conductor terminal, and having also a p ortion engageable with a conductor terminal disposed in the other of said spaced-apart apertures; a member, relatively immovable with respect to said support, disposed within said' second tubular body, and having a portion engageable with a conductor terminalreceivab-le within said one aperture and the aperture in said second body when these apertures are in aligned relation; and resilient means,y constructed and arranged to press the conductor terminal in vthe aligned apertures against the portion of said member, and also to press the conductor terminal in the other of said spaced-apart apertures against the portion of said second body.

12. In combination with an electric switch, l

having an apertured base and a switching element, a body,` mounted for sliding movement through said base aperture, and having a recess yfor receiving a conductor terminal; a member,

having one end bearing against said switching element, and its other end in' position to cooperate with the body recess and a conductor terminall within said bodyy recess; and resilient .,means, interposed between said base and a portion of said body, constructed and arranged to press said one end of said member against said switching element, and to press a conductor/terminal-in said body recess against said other end lof said member.

13. In combination with an electric switch, having an apertured support and a switching element= a tubular body, mounted for sliding movement through said support aperture, `and having a recess at one surface of said support for receiving a conductor terminal, and a flange at the Opposite surface of said support; a member, having one end within said bodyin position to engage a conductor terminal disposed within said body recess, and its opposite end bearing against said switching member, said opposite end being provided with a flange engageable with said body iiange; and spring means disposed about said body, interposed between said bodylflange and said opposite surface of said support, constructed and arranged to urge said body ange to engagement with said member iiange. .A

14. A switch including in combination, a housing for switching mechanismincluding a bridge Inen'tiber, a plurality" of spring1pressedi contactsl including'terminal1receptacles,` associated with said contacts carriedf bylsaid housing, saidcontacts being icooperable with. said' bridge member and provided with extensions cooperating with said receptacleskwhereby to: directly engage and resiliently retain terminals placed in said receptacles.

15. A switch: including in combination, a housing for switching mechanismi including a bridge member,` and'v contact means carried f by said housing,` said contact means yincludingin combination'. any elongatedbo'dy` provided with a terminal receiving seat, a `vspring operatively related `to said'body, a movable member operatively relate'd tosaid `body and -r providedl with a contact tact meansfsai'dY contact means including: in com'- bination,- a tubular body provided with. a4 terminal receiving aperture; ar4 spring lsurrounding said tubular body, an -insert arranged within said tubularbodyand providedwithv a Contact at one extremity adapted to be pressed into engagement with :saidzbridge u member by'said spring, anda detent@-atzthe'other extremity :adapted to resiliently retainaiterminalaarranged in said aperture through=theagency of said spring;

17. -A switchf including in combination, a housingfforrswitchingf mechanism including a bridge member',4 aplurality of contacts carried by said housing, at" least one of said contacts being spring pressed and having a terminal receptacle associated therewith,fsaid contacts being cooperable with said bridge `member, said spring pressed contact being provided with an extension cooperatinglwithsaid receptacle wherebyto directly engage and resiliently retain a terminal placed in saidreceptacle;

' 18'.v A switchincluding in combination, a housing for switching mechanism including a bridge member; and contact means carried'by said housing atleast one of said contact means including incombination an elongated body provided with agterminal. receiving seat, a movable member operatively 4related to said body and `provided with a contact at none extremity for engagement withsaid bridge membena detent at the other 'extremity-adapted to retain a terminal in said 

